Newcomer Yacaman returns AF Racing to GRC Lites podium in Louisville

That’s how long it had been since Gustavo Yacaman had driven a GRC Lites car when he landed in Louisville for last weekend’s event at the Kentucky Exposition Center.

He didn’t exactly take very long to get the hang of it again, though. At or near the top of the speed charts all weekend, Yacaman not only won pole for the weekend, but also hung on for a third place finish in the final—returning AF Racing to the podium for the first time since last August in Atlantic City. And it all came together in the span of less than a week.

“I had just landed from Europe from my last race in Silverstone,” Yacaman explained before hitting the track. “I saw a message from (team manager) Brad Manka asking me for my phone number. He was like, hey, there’s a chance we can put you in the car. We don’t have a driver for the weekend and we need someone that can hopefully put the car in the front. I was like, yeah I’m down! I flew right up here and here we are a couple days later!”

One half of the first all-Colombian driver lineup in Red Bull Global Rallycross history, racing alongside veteran Lites driver Alejandro Fernandez, the three-time Indy Lights race winner expected to be quick right away. But with experienced podium finishers or race winners on the grid with every other team in the paddock, it was still a slight shock to the establishment to see a first-timer’s name atop the scoreboard when the checkered flag fell in qualifying.

“If you don’t come here with a dream of wanting to win on the podium, you might as well stay home and watch it on TV,” he explained. “You have to have those aspirations and those desires, but at the same time, you can’t get carried away. The only expectations I had were to have fun, to enjoy the experience, to keep the car in one piece, and hopefully to make it out in the final.”

As the only newcomer in the field in Louisville, Yacaman knew there would be challenges during the weekend. Among the biggest: a deep field, with nine drivers who had led laps in Memphis, and a brand new course—albeit one that no other driver had experience on either.

“That plays against you in Europe where the tracks are two minutes long, but I don’t think it will matter here as much,” the Colombian said of the new course. “But the level of the series is pretty good—we have seen throughout the years that there are no slouches. And even though this is a new track, everything else is also new for me. The tires, brakes, four-wheel drive, just everything is brand new.”

So will we see the experienced open-wheel and sports car driver back on the Lites grid in 2017? All indications point to yes, as long as schedules line up. Yacaman will be in Belgium next weekend as Red Bull GRC makes its debut at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, but there are no additional date conflicts with the Blancpain GT Series, his primary sports car obligation for the season.

“We’ll see—we’ll check the schedule!” he said from the podium. “Any weekend I can, I’d love to come back. It was a great experience. Running these cars and running in the dirt was a completely new experience for me, and it took some time for me to figure out because I’m used to high downforce cars.

Rd 4: Circuit of the Americas

Rd 5: Circuit of the Americas

Gustavo YacamanGustavo Yacaman

colombian race car driver at Red Bull Global Rallycross

Full name: Gustavo Yacaman

Nationality: Colombian

Resides: Miami, FL.

Birthdate: February 25, 1991

Supercar Lites Class Driver

www.gustavoyacaman.com

Yacamán Aristizabal is a Colombian racing driver from Santiago de Cali. Yacamán began his career in open-wheel racing, but switched to sports car endurance racing in 2012. He raced in the US until he joined G-Drive Racing in 2015, where he drove a Ligier in the WEC Championship and finished that season 3rd in the LMP2 class. In 2016 Yacamán switched to a sprint format, driving for BMW Team Teo Martín in the International GT Open series. He finished runner-up for the 2016 Championship.

For 2009, he returned to the U.S. to race in the Firestone Indy Lights Series with Sam Schmidt Motorsports. He finished 12th in points with a best finish of 4th at the Milwaukee Mile. He returned to the series in 2010 with the rookie team Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing. Yacamán improved to 10th in points and captured his first podium finish with a 3rd place at Toronto. He returned to the series in 2011 for a third season, this time with Team Moore Racing. He captured his first win late in the season at Baltimore and finished fourth in points. Yacamán achieved his first Indy Lights pole position at the 2012 Firestone Freedom 100. He finished the season third in points with two wins (at Detroit and Toronto) and three runner-up finishes.

source: wikipedia.com

Results

2017 Third position – Red Bull Global Rallycross Louisville

2016 BMW M6 GT3 – BMW Team Teo Martin

2015 Ligier JS P2 – G-Drive Racing

2016 Oreca Chevy – Starworks Motorsport

2014 Morgan – NIssan – Ligier – OAK Racing

2013 DP 6 – Michael Shank Racing

2012 DP 6 Michael Shank Racing – Daytona 24 hours

2012 Dallara 2 – Team Moore Racing

2012 Dallara 2 – Team Moore Racing

2011 Dallara 10 – Wayne Taylor Racing

2009 Dallara 44 – Sam Schmidt

2008 D308 14 – Tecauto

2008 D306 44 – Novatec Racing

2006 Formula BMW – Master Junior Formula

Matthew HallidayMatthew Halliday

New Zealand race car driver

Full name: Matthew Halliday

Nationality: New Zealand

Resides: Auckland, NZ

Birthdate: July 14, 1979

Supercar Lites Class Driver

www.matthaliday.com

Matt Halliday is a New Zealand born international racing driver who has been contesting a variety of racing categories worldwide. Having risen through the ranks of junior formulae such as karting and Formula Ford he quickly progressed to international racing championships including Formula Holden in Australia, Indy Lights in the USA and Formula Renault V6 in Europe and Asia.The highest profile categories he has raced in include Australian V8 Supercars endurance races, USA Champcars, A1GP World Cup of Motorsport and more recently the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup contested in Europe and the Middle East. When his commitments allow, Matt also returns to New Zealand to contest selected Porsche GT3 events.

source: wikipedia.com

Results

2010 – Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup – Europe and Middle East

2009/10 – New Zealand Porsche GT3 Challenge Cup

2009 – New Zealand Porsche GT3 Mini-Endurance

2008– V8 Supercars – Australia

2008– New Zealand Grand Prix – Toyota Racing Series

2007/08 – New Zealand Porsche GT3 Challenge Cup

2007– V8 Supercars – Australia

2007– USA Champ Car World Series

2007 – New Zealand Porsche GT3 Challenge Cup

2006/07– A1GP Series World Cup Of Motorsport

2006– V8 Supercars – Australia

2006 – New Zealand Porsche GT3 Challenge Cup

2006–Formula Renault V6 Asia Championship

2005/06– A1GP Series World Cup Of Motorsport

2005– V8 Supercars – Australia

2005 – Champcar World Series – USA

2005 – New Zealand Porsche GT3 Championship

2004– V8 Supercars – Australia

2004 – Australia and NZ – Porsche GT3 and Carrera Cup

2004 – Porsche Trans Tasman GT3 Challenge – NZ

2003 –Formula V6 Euroseries – Europe and UK

Dayton Indy Lights Series 2001 – USA

2nd & 3rd – New Zealand Grand Prix

3rd – Formula Holden Championship

Formula Holden 1999 – 2000 – Australia and NZ

4th – National Championship (10 Top 3 finishes)

3rd – NZ FFI600 Festival

Formula Ford 1998 – NZ

National Sprint Champion in1997.

National Senior Champion in 1996

National Junior Light Champion in 1994

1988 – 1997 Karting – NZ

Burt JennerBurt Jenner

X Games Athlete

Full name: Burt Jenner

Nationality: American

Resides: Malibu, CA

Birthdate: September 6, 1978

Supercar Lites Class Driver

www.jennerracing.com

Joining AF Racing alongside Alejandro Fernandez, Jenner makes his first GRC Lites start in Memphis nearly four years removed from his first test session in the car. The former Octane Academy winner has made a name for himself in off-road racing and sports cars, and combines those backgrounds in his first attempt at rallycross. The California native is just one in a long line of drivers to make his debut for the team, many of whom have gone on to contend for wins.

Rd 4: Circuit of the Americas

Rd 5: Circuit of the Americas

Gustavo YacamanGustavo Yacaman

colombian race car driver at Red Bull Global Rallycross

Full name: Gustavo Yacaman

Nationality: Colombian

Resides: Miami, FL.

Birthdate: February 25, 1991

Supercar Lites Class Driver

www.gustavoyacaman.com

Yacamán Aristizabal is a Colombian racing driver from Santiago de Cali. Yacamán began his career in open-wheel racing, but switched to sports car endurance racing in 2012. He raced in the US until he joined G-Drive Racing in 2015, where he drove a Ligier in the WEC Championship and finished that season 3rd in the LMP2 class. In 2016 Yacamán switched to a sprint format, driving for BMW Team Teo Martín in the International GT Open series. He finished runner-up for the 2016 Championship.

For 2009, he returned to the U.S. to race in the Firestone Indy Lights Series with Sam Schmidt Motorsports. He finished 12th in points with a best finish of 4th at the Milwaukee Mile. He returned to the series in 2010 with the rookie team Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing. Yacamán improved to 10th in points and captured his first podium finish with a 3rd place at Toronto. He returned to the series in 2011 for a third season, this time with Team Moore Racing. He captured his first win late in the season at Baltimore and finished fourth in points. Yacamán achieved his first Indy Lights pole position at the 2012 Firestone Freedom 100. He finished the season third in points with two wins (at Detroit and Toronto) and three runner-up finishes.

source: wikipedia.com

Results

2017 Third position – Red Bull Global Rallycross Louisville

2016 BMW M6 GT3 – BMW Team Teo Martin

2015 Ligier JS P2 – G-Drive Racing

2016 Oreca Chevy – Starworks Motorsport

2014 Morgan – NIssan – Ligier – OAK Racing

2013 DP 6 – Michael Shank Racing

2012 DP 6 Michael Shank Racing – Daytona 24 hours

2012 Dallara 2 – Team Moore Racing

2012 Dallara 2 – Team Moore Racing

2011 Dallara 10 – Wayne Taylor Racing

2009 Dallara 44 – Sam Schmidt

2008 D308 14 – Tecauto

2008 D306 44 – Novatec Racing

2006 Formula BMW – Master Junior Formula

Matthew HallidayMatthew Halliday

New Zealand race car driver

Full name: Matthew Halliday

Nationality: New Zealand

Resides: Auckland, NZ

Birthdate: July 14, 1979

Supercar Lites Class Driver

www.matthaliday.com

Matt Halliday is a New Zealand born international racing driver who has been contesting a variety of racing categories worldwide. Having risen through the ranks of junior formulae such as karting and Formula Ford he quickly progressed to international racing championships including Formula Holden in Australia, Indy Lights in the USA and Formula Renault V6 in Europe and Asia.The highest profile categories he has raced in include Australian V8 Supercars endurance races, USA Champcars, A1GP World Cup of Motorsport and more recently the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup contested in Europe and the Middle East. When his commitments allow, Matt also returns to New Zealand to contest selected Porsche GT3 events.

source: wikipedia.com

Results

2010 – Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup – Europe and Middle East

2009/10 – New Zealand Porsche GT3 Challenge Cup

2009 – New Zealand Porsche GT3 Mini-Endurance

2008– V8 Supercars – Australia

2008– New Zealand Grand Prix – Toyota Racing Series

2007/08 – New Zealand Porsche GT3 Challenge Cup

2007– V8 Supercars – Australia

2007– USA Champ Car World Series

2007 – New Zealand Porsche GT3 Challenge Cup

2006/07– A1GP Series World Cup Of Motorsport

2006– V8 Supercars – Australia

2006 – New Zealand Porsche GT3 Challenge Cup

2006–Formula Renault V6 Asia Championship

2005/06– A1GP Series World Cup Of Motorsport

2005– V8 Supercars – Australia

2005 – Champcar World Series – USA

2005 – New Zealand Porsche GT3 Championship

2004– V8 Supercars – Australia

2004 – Australia and NZ – Porsche GT3 and Carrera Cup

2004 – Porsche Trans Tasman GT3 Challenge – NZ

2003 –Formula V6 Euroseries – Europe and UK

Dayton Indy Lights Series 2001 – USA

2nd & 3rd – New Zealand Grand Prix

3rd – Formula Holden Championship

Formula Holden 1999 – 2000 – Australia and NZ

4th – National Championship (10 Top 3 finishes)

3rd – NZ FFI600 Festival

Formula Ford 1998 – NZ

National Sprint Champion in1997.

National Senior Champion in 1996

National Junior Light Champion in 1994

1988 – 1997 Karting – NZ

Burt JennerBurt Jenner

X Games Athlete

Full name: Burt Jenner

Nationality: American

Resides: Malibu, CA

Birthdate: September 6, 1978

Supercar Lites Class Driver

www.jennerracing.com

Joining AF Racing alongside Alejandro Fernandez, Jenner makes his first GRC Lites start in Memphis nearly four years removed from his first test session in the car. The former Octane Academy winner has made a name for himself in off-road racing and sports cars, and combines those backgrounds in his first attempt at rallycross. The California native is just one in a long line of drivers to make his debut for the team, many of whom have gone on to contend for wins.